When mentioning the province of "Ang Thong", many people may wonder, "Huh... where is Ang Thong located in Thailand?" Or they may only have a superficial knowledge of Ang Thong, such as associating it with Wat Muang. I myself belong to the latter group. I only know Ang Thong through Wat Muang, Wat Chaiyo Worawihan, Wat Ton Son, and Wat Khun Inthapramun. That's really all I know.

Until I saw this book, I flipped through the pictures one by one, read the details page by page. Hey!! Ang Thong has more than I thought. This is the point that inspired me to want to get to know Ang Thong better than before. When I finished reading the book, I didn't wait, I didn't have to plan in advance for many weeks, just wait for the weekend. Travel as planned to experience the "Ang Thong" in every nook and cranny.

Let me emphasize again that if anyone invites you to visit Ang Thong, please don't say "yuck" right away because you think there's nothing interesting in Ang Thong. Try reading this review to the end first. Then you can decide whether to say "yuck" or "wow."

Let's get to know "Ang Thong" a little bit first. Ang Thong is a province in the Central Plains, bordering the provinces of Sing Buri, Lop Buri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, and Suphan Buri. The provincial motto is "Phra Somdej Ketsayaiyo, Luang Pho To, the Great One, Brave Thai People, Famous Dolls, Famous Weaving, Home of Drums, City of Two Sleeping Buddhas".

I'm here to open a trip to Wat Ban Phran in Saewang Ha district, the northernmost district of Ang Thong.

No one knows exactly when Wat Ban Phran was built, but according to legend, it was constructed by Mr. Phan, Mrs. Ngern (husband and wife), and their son, Mr. Kraputhong. The temple was built during the late Lopburi period. After about 100 years, the temple was abandoned for unknown reasons. It remained abandoned for over 200 years until a hunter built a house near the temple, which eventually led to the formation of a village. The villagers then restored the temple.

What makes this temple stand out? Why did I choose to come here? Let me answer that by saying that this temple is unlike any other. The chapel is decorated with Benjarong porcelain, with the four outer walls of the chapel being covered in blue Thai-patterned tiles. The gables and door and window arches are decorated with beautifully crafted terracotta tiles. The base of the chapel curves like a junk ship. Around the chapel, you can see Benjarong jars adorning all four sides. I had the opportunity to talk to the monk who looks after this temple. He told me that the Benjarong jars contain cremated remains instead of being placed in an urn. This is a clever way to encourage younger generations to take care of the jars containing the cremated remains, as well as to maintain and preserve the temple itself.

Inside the viharn is the enshrined statue of Luang Pho Kraithong, a sacred Buddha image that has been aคู่บ้านคู่เมือง of Ang Thong for over 900 years, since the Lavo era. The Buddha statue is made of sandstone. The name Luang Pho Kraithong "Kraithong" refers to the robe, sanghati, and loincloth of Luang Pho Kraithong. According to legend, at midnight, the "Kraithong" will glow brightly, signifying a good omen for those who see it.

Inside the temple, there are points where relatives can make merit according to their faith to buy tiles to be placed on the gable.

Beside the Bencharong Vihara, there are two large trees that have grown together. The monk asked me to look up at the branches of the two trees. The branches of the two trees were connected and became one.

Behind the Bencharong Hall is the ordination hall, which is brightly colored in yellow. The gable of the ordination hall is beautifully decorated with carved teakwood.

Inside, there is a principal Buddha image, statues of former abbots, and relics of the Lord Buddha bestowed by His Holiness Somdet Phra Yanasangworn, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, on the occasion of the 2600th anniversary of Buddhism.

I feel like this temple is a real temple. I don't see any flower shops or donation boxes like other temples. If you want to offer flowers to the Buddha, you have to bring them yourself. However, the temple will provide incense and candles for you.

Behind the church is the Sri Ban Phran Museum, built to celebrate the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King. Inside, there are many ancient artifacts that the Fine Arts Department has donated to the temple. I went in to take a look and couldn't help but feel a little nervous for the temple. The museum building doesn't seem very secure for the priceless artifacts it houses. The building is made of concrete with glass walls on almost every side. There are no iron bars to prevent theft, only a key to lock the door.

From Sa Wang Ha district, I continued to Chaiyo district, where my first destination was Wat Chaiyo Worawihan.

Wat Chaiyo Worawihan, also known as Wat Kesa Chayo, is a second-class royal temple of the Worawihan type. The exact date of its construction is unknown. During the reign of King Rama IV, Somdet Phra Phutthachan (Toh Prommarangsi) of Wat Rakang Kositaram came to build a large, unpainted white stucco Buddha statue in the Samadhi posture (Luang Pho To) in the open air. Later, during the reign of King Rama V, he visited the temple to pay homage and ordered the renovation of Wat Chaiyo. However, the vibrations during the laying of the foundation of the wihan caused the Luang Pho To statue to collapse. Therefore, the king ordered the construction of a new Luang Pho To statue based on the model of Luang Pho To at Wat Kalyanamit and bestowed the name Phra Maha Phutthaphim. A grand ceremony was held to celebrate its completion, which was the largest event ever held in Ang Thong province at that time.

The proportions of Luang Pho To's body appear slender and tall, with a long, narrow face. This is different from the typical Buddha statues I have seen, which tend to have a more rounded and full face. Although the proportions of Luang Pho To may seem unusual, they are still beautiful in their own way. Due to the large size of Luang Pho To, the viharn that houses the statue is also very tall. As we turned our car into the temple grounds, the viharn was clearly visible.

Adjacent to the Phra Viharn Luang Pho To is the Phra Ubosot, which is constructed with beautiful architecture. Inside, there are murals depicting the life of the Buddha, painted by artists during the reign of King Rama V. There is also a bronze statue of Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phrommarangsi) from Wat Rakhang Khositaram. I highly recommend that if anyone comes to pay respects to Luang Pho To, don't forget to come and see the murals in the Phra Ubosot as well.

Another must-visit spot is the Phra Phutthachan To Phrommarangsi Shrine, which is located right by the Chao Phraya River. Inside the shrine is a very large statue of Phra Phutthachan To Phrommarangsi from Wat Rakhang Khositaram.

Next to the parking lot is a small market with a wide variety of food and souvenirs. However, the one thing you shouldn't miss is the "Kanoom Kong" (crispy coconut pancake), which comes in two flavors: black sesame and peanut. Whenever I visit this temple, I always make sure to buy some as a souvenir.

From Chaiyo District, we continue to Pho Thong District. The first destination in Pho Thong District is Wat Khun Inthapramun.

As you turn into the area of Wat Khun Inthapramun, you will be greeted by a large reclining Buddha, one of the two reclining Buddhas mentioned in Ang Thong's provincial motto. It is located in the open air.

Wat Khun Inthapramun was built during the Sukhothai period. It is assumed to be a large temple when compared to the remains of the original brick boundary. Inside the temple, there is a large reclining Buddha statue called Phra Si Mueang Thong. The length of the Buddha statue from the top of the head to the end of the feet is 50 meters (25 wa). It is the second longest reclining Buddha statue in Thailand, only 3 meters shorter than the reclining Buddha statue at Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang in Samut Prakan Province. Originally, Phra Si Mueang Thong was enshrined in a viharn, but it was burned down and destroyed during the first fall of Ayutthaya. Only the Buddha statue and the remains of the viharn pillars have been exposed to the sun and rain for hundreds of years.

I have been to this temple a total of 3 times, but this time is a special occasion. Because this time the Buddha statue is draped in a golden robe, making the Buddha statue even more beautiful.

If you come to pay homage to Phra Si Mueang Thong, go and touch the soles of Phra Si Mueang Thong's feet. It is said that he will bless you with a long life.

Next to Phra Si Mueang Thong, you will find the ruins of the ancient Wihan Luang Pho Khao temple, located on a low hill. The temple remains only the base, some walls, and the Buddha statue. The roots of a Bodhi tree have begun to cover the ruins.

Located next to the ancient site of Wihan Luang Pho Khao, you will find a small multipurpose pavilion where flowers are sold. This area is also home to a statue of Khun Inthapramun, as well as a human skeleton that was unearthed within the wihan. The skeleton is believed to be that of Khun Inthapramun himself, and it is positioned lying face down with its hands and feet bound behind its back.

Behind the Phra Si Mueang Thong is the location of the hundred million baht Ubosot. I think this Ubosot is probably the most modern in Thailand.

This ubosot has two floors. The lower floor is a large hall and houses the Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn Buddha image.

As I mentioned earlier, this ubosot is the most modern in Thailand because it has both an elevator and an escalator. In addition, it is also air-conditioned.

As the escalator slowly carried me up to the 2nd floor, I couldn't help but be struck by the murals on the wall. They depicted angels and fairies who looked incredibly trendy, wearing modern clothes, holding iPads/iPhones, and even playing guitars.

The second floor houses the Phra Buddha Maha Mongkol Jin Da Plab Pith, a Buddha statue with a serene face. In front of the statue are silver and gold Bodhi trees. This floor is decorated in shades of brown, creating a truly magnificent atmosphere.

Next to the Phra Buddha Maha Mongkol Jinnaphop Phit statue, you will find wax figures of many famous Thai monks.

What caught my eye was the mural on the opposite wall of the Buddha statue. It was a wide-angle view of the temple with hundreds, if not thousands, of devotees. If you look closely, each devotee has a lifelike drawing that looks like a photograph.

Another important landmark in this temple is the large statue of Somdet Phra Phutthachan (Toh Prommarangsi), which is located behind the ordination hall.

From Wat Khun Inthapramun, I continued to Wat Tha It, which is not far from Wat Khun Inthapramun.

Wat Tha It is an ancient temple built in 2304 BE. It is understood that the original site was a brick kiln that was used to build Wat Khun Inthapramun. When the temple was built, it was named Wat Tha It.

The Wat Tha It temple has many interesting things to offer, such as Luang Pho Khao, a Buddha statue built during the Ayutthaya period, and another, Luang Pho Phet, which is the main Buddha statue in the ordination hall. When I visited, the temple was in the process of renovating the entire ordination hall, so Luang Pho Phet was wrapped in a robe.

What caught my eye as soon as I turned into the temple grounds was the golden Phra That Chedi Si Pho Thong, standing tall and majestic, shimmering with a radiant golden hue. This chedi, built in 1992, has an octagonal base with a bell-shaped body and 32 rings, measuring 40 meters wide and 73 meters high. Its architectural style blends elements of Lanna, Ayutthaya, and Rattanakosin periods.

Inside the Sri Pho Thong Chedi, on the ground floor, there are Buddha statues lined up all around.

The Sri Pho Thong Chedi has a total of 10 floors. Each floor has a Buddha statue in the center of the chedi. I would like to warn those who are going to climb to the top floor to walk up slowly. Because if you hurry, you will get very tired. I walked up alone because my friends on the trip asked to wait on the lower floor. With the fear that my friends would wait for a long time, I hurried up. I walked up until I reached about the 6th floor. I started to feel my heart beating fast. I felt that the pulse in my temples was beating very hard. Coupled with the hot weather, I was sweating all over my body. I felt like I was going to faint. I wondered if anyone would be able to help me if I fainted. So I sat down to rest. I thought about whether to continue walking up or to change my mind and walk down. But then I thought again, I've come this far, I'm not going to give up. So I gritted my teeth and walked up to the top. I wanted to see what was up there and enjoy the view from above.

The top floor houses the relics of the Buddha's clavicle, but visitors cannot see them directly as they are enshrined in a small stupa. While there is no view from the top floor, stunning panoramic views can be enjoyed from the 9th floor downwards. From these lower floors, visitors can admire the scenery, including Wat Khun Inthapramun and the Big Buddha of Wat Muang.

From Pho Thong district, we move on to Mueang district. The first destination in Mueang district is Wat Sangkrathai.

The Sangkrathai Temple, formerly known as the Samkrathai Temple, was built before the Ayutthaya period, approximately 400-500 years ago. At that time, many Buddhist monks resided there. Later, the monks began to quarrel and fight among themselves. The villagers believed that the cause was likely due to the powerful spirits residing in the temple, which caused disharmony among the monks. As a result, the monks dispersed and went their separate ways. Eventually, the villagers lost faith and stopped making merit at the temple. With no monks residing there, it became abandoned. Today, all that remains of the Sangkrathai Temple is a ruined chapel, now covered by a Bodhi tree.

The walls of the church are in a very old and dilapidated condition. Although there are large cracks, the church is still standing without collapsing. This is because the roots of the four large banyan trees that grow around it have firmly gripped the walls of the church. There are a total of 3 rooms inside the church.

The first room houses the revered Luang Pho Kaen. Behind the Buddha statue, the roots of the Bodhi tree can still be seen intertwined with each other.

The second room houses three main Buddha statues: the large Luang Pho Wan Dee, and the smaller Luang Pho Si and Luang Pho Suk.

The last room is empty.

Although this church has no roof, it still feels shady from the shade of the Bodhi tree that covers it, like a roof. Wat Sangkathai may look similar to the church at Wat Bang Kung in Samut Songkhram Province, but I think this church is much larger and older.

At this point, I would like to implore tourists to follow the instructions of the temple, which is to not climb the windows. Doing so will damage this historical site. Thank you.

From Wat Sangkathai, we continued to Wat Tonsan.

It is believed that Wat Tonsen was built during the Ayutthaya period, as evidenced by the discovery of old betel nuts, which were used during that era, and rusted metal sheets of unknown origin when the old ordination hall was demolished. The betel nuts were found in the hole of the central boundary marker of the ordination hall.

The highlight of Wat Tonson is the Vihara, which houses a Buddha statue in the Mara-Vijaya posture named Somdet Phra Nava Lokuttara Thammaracha Sri Mueang Thong, or simply Somdet Phra Sri Mueang Thong. The statue is made of metal, lacquered and gilded, and measures 6 wa 3 sok 9 inches wide and 9 wa 1 sok 19 inches high. It is considered the largest single-piece brass Buddha statue in the world.

The interior of the temple is decorated with blue and gold patterns on the pillars, creating a unique and beautiful atmosphere. In front of the statue of Somdet Phra Si Mueang Thong, there are many cabinets displaying sacred objects that can be rented for good luck.

Leaving Wat Tonsan, we stopped by the Ang Thong City Pillar Shrine for good luck.

The Ang Thong City Pillar Shrine is located opposite the Provincial Hall. It is a four-sided building. The City Pillar Shrine is a sacred place where the guardian spirits of the city, Phra Seua Mueang and Phra Song Mueang, reside. They will protect and ward off disasters to ensure the prosperity of the city and the well-being of its people.

The construction of the city pillar shrine involves a ceremony to cut down an auspicious tree to be used as the main pillar. The ceremony is presided over by royal astrologers from the Bureau of the Royal Household. The city pillar shrine of Ang Thong province is the second such shrine after the one in Bangkok. It features murals on all four walls, including beautiful "Phum Khao Bin" and "Kan Yaeng" patterns.

If you are hungry after paying respects at the City Pillar Shrine, there is a shredded chicken noodle shop opposite the shrine. It's very delicious.

The noodle shop is a two-story commercial building. It's easy to find because it's on the side of the road, opposite the city pillar shrine.

I was very impressed with the tom yum noodles. The taste was so spicy that I didn't need to add any seasoning. The price was only 20 baht per bowl.

Another must-try dish, similar to chicken feet noodle soup, is also very delicious. The broth of the noodle soup tastes the same as the noodle soup, but what's special is the tenderness of the chicken feet. You can suck the meat off the chicken feet until there's no meat left on the bone! The price is 35 baht per cup.

From the Ang Thong City Pillar Shrine, I continued to wander around Mueang District. My next destination was Wat Chantrangsi.

Wat Chantharangsee was built in 1903. Inside the temple, there is a four-faced pavilion with a five-tiered central spire, 48 meters high, 24 meters wide, and 33 meters long. It has exquisite architecture that reflects the flourishing of Buddhism in Ang Thong Province. Inside the pavilion is a large metal statue of Luang Pho Sot of Wat Paknam (Luang Pho Sot Chandasaro), which is 6 meters and 9 inches wide, 9 meters and 9 inches high, and weighs 45 tons.

It is said that if you come to pay respects to Luang Pho Sot and touch the crystal ball at the base of the Buddha statue, he will grant you a blessing for good health, a radiant complexion, and beautiful features.

Within the grounds of Wat Chantrangsi, there is another spot that should not be missed: the shrine of the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin. This shrine features four wooden statues of Guanyin, each standing back to back.

And the last place in the Mueang district that I visited was Wat Cham Pa Lo.

This ancient temple is also hundreds of years old. It was once a resting place for the army of King Naresuan. I don't have any details about this temple, but I chose to come here because I wanted to pay respects to the Phra Paang Pa Lilai Yai statue, which is similar to the one at Wat Si Roi, which I will also be visiting. Inside the temple there is a Maha Uth Bodhi, but when I went, the chapel was closed, so I couldn't go in and see it. There are also some old chedis that can still be seen.

From Mueang district, I continued to Wichian Buri district, stopping by Wat Muang first.

Originally, Wat Muang was an abandoned temple built during the Ayutthaya period. When the Burmese army invaded Thailand, they set fire to the temple, causing significant damage. Only half of a white sandstone Buddha statue remained, protruding from the earthen mound. This statue was named "Khao" (meaning "white"). Later, Luang Pho Kasem Acharasupho had the statue plastered with cement to complete it. He then restored Wat Muang to its former glory.

Upon entering the temple, on the right-hand side, you will find the ordination hall. The base of the ordination hall is built in the shape of a lotus flower, making it a beautiful and unique sight. Surrounding the ordination hall are various Buddha statues in different postures, including the Buddha of the Day and statues of revered monks, all situated around the lotus petals. Inside the ordination hall, you will find the principal Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Chinnarat, flanked by his two chief disciples. The walls are adorned with vibrant murals depicting the life of the Buddha.

Next to the Ubosot is the Phra Wihan Kaew Ratana Phra Brahman-Suwannapal. The wihan is a blend of Thai and Chinese architecture, with gold and silver nagas winding around the handrails. The interior of the wihan is adorned with countless small pieces of glass, resembling the 100-meter wihan at Wat Tha Sung in Uthai Thani province. However, this wihan is much smaller than the 100-meter one. Inside the wihan is the revered Luang Pho Ngoen, the first solid silver Buddha statue in the posture of subduing Mara in Thailand. Additionally, there are statues of renowned monks from across the country surrounding the main statue.

On the left side of the Crystal Temple is the beautiful Thousand-Armed Guanyin Temple.

On the right-hand side is an area that simulates the terrain of hell, to serve as a reminder to the faithful not to violate moral principles or commit evil deeds. From this terrain of hell, one can walk through to the area behind the temple to reach Luang Pho To, one of the mottos of Ang Thong Province and the largest Buddha statue in the world.

The Phra Buddha Maha Nawaminthra Sakyamuni Sri Visutthachaichan is the largest Buddha statue in the world, with a lap width of 63 meters and a height of 95 meters. It took over 18 years to build and cost 50 million baht. It is said that if you touch the tip of the Big Buddha's hand, he will bless you with a high position, a prosperous business, and great success.

For those who are planning to pay respects and ask for blessings from Luang Pho Yai, I would recommend visiting during the early morning or late afternoon. This is because the area where you will be walking to pay respects to Luang Pho Yai is tiled. When going to ask for blessings, you will have to walk barefoot to the top. If you go during the day when the sun is high, the tiles will absorb the heat, making it very hot to walk on. You will have to rely on your ballet skills to jump and float up one or two steps at a time to pay respects to Luang Pho Yai instead of walking.

Niramit Restaurant is a Thai restaurant with a lush atmosphere. There are both indoor and outdoor areas located on the banks of the Mae Noi River. This afternoon, I'd prefer to sit in the air-conditioned room.

This afternoon's meal started with deep-fried catfish cakes. The texture of the fish cakes was chewy and tender.

This is followed by fried sea bass, served with two dipping sauces. The first is a sweet and salty sauce, while the second is a sour and spicy sauce with sliced mango.

Stir-fried Chinese kale with salted fish, a dish with an unusual appearance. From the taste, I imagine it was made by stir-frying salted fish with minced pork (similar to the "Stir-fried pork with fermented bean curd" dish) and then pouring it over stir-fried Chinese kale. The taste was decent.

Stir-fried fish with ginger and chili. This one also looks strange. Usually when I order stir-fried fish with ginger and chili, most of the time I have encountered it is to chop the catfish and then fry it and mix it with curry paste. But here, the soft-bodied fish is stir-fried with curry paste and morning glory. It's another strange way.

I think the Tom Yum Pla Kang is a bit lacking in flavor.

And the menu that the shop recommends is Gaeng Liang, the taste is okay.

Besides selling food, this shop also sells Thai desserts at the front of the shop as souvenirs.

After a satisfying meal, we continued our journey for a short while to Wat Nang Nai Thammaram, which is located not far from the Niramith restaurant.

Wat Nang Nai Thammaram is the main temple of Sala Chao Rot Thong sub-district. The highlight is the Ho Buraphacharya, which is a place that gathers auspiciousness for both Wat Nang Nai and other temples in Ang Thong province. This Ho Buraphacharya was originally an old hip-roofed kuti where Luang Pho Nuean and Luang Pho Chom, the former important abbots of Wat Nang Nai, used to reside for many decades. As time passed, things deteriorated to the point that the old kuti where the teachers and monks once resided could not be repaired. The abbot, Phra Maha Wira Weerayano, therefore decided to build the Ho Buraphacharya to honor the charisma of Luang Pho Nuean Thammaramo and Luang Pho Chom Thammathiro.

This eastern-style sala is built in the hip roof style, following the architecture of the original kuti that was demolished. Inside, it houses a life-size bronze statue of Luang Pho Nue, his bone relics and teeth, as well as a life-size bronze statue of Luang Pho Chom. There is also an exhibition of the personal belongings of Luang Pho Nue and Luang Pho Chom.

As you can see at the base of the statue of Luang Pho Nuean, there are quite a lot of soft drinks. Villagers who have made offerings and their wishes have been granted will bring soft drinks to make merit. The amount of soft drinks increases every day. Some people have even brought tens of thousands of bottles to make merit. The temple will use the soft drinks offered by the devotees to participate in various merit-making activities, ceremonies, and to support children's activities in schools and festivals on a regular basis.

The Talad Rot Fai (Golden Shrine Market) is a small, old market that received the Outstanding Architectural Conservation Award in 2007 from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The market community is predominantly Chinese, with buildings constructed as shophouses.

This market is not just a tourist destination, but also a place where local people from Ang Thong come to shop. There are shops selling everything from household goods to everyday necessities.

This includes souvenir shops like Song Nimit, a famous Thai dessert shop in Ang Thong, where they make fresh desserts right in front of you.

Not far from the Talad San Chao Rong Thong is the Kwan U Shrine. To get to the Kwan U Shrine, you cannot park your car in front of the shrine because the road leading to the shrine is only a small road that passes through the community.

The Kwan Woo Shrine was built by the faith of the Chinese community living in the community. To pay respect and worship during various festivals. In 2004, the residents of the Sala Chao Rot Thong Market renovated and repaired the entire building of the Kwan Woo Shrine. It was completed in 2007.

This large wooden door is a favorite among my members.

The interior is very beautiful.

Inside the shrine is a statue of Lao Joe.

Climbing Mount Hongzhou

Bung Chiang Tai Kung

Physiognomy

and there is a Buddha statue enshrined as well.

The walls are adorned with beautiful paintings, and in some places, there are sculptures that protrude from the walls.

The roof of the court is adorned with two intricately detailed dragons.

There are Chinese shrines with red pillars. If anyone comes to Wichian Buri and has some time left, I recommend that you don't miss visiting here.

Our next destination is Wat Khian, a temple renowned for its stunning murals.

The murals are located in this old ordination hall. The ordination hall is open for tourists to admire the beauty of the murals during two periods: from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

Stepping through the church's doors is like stepping back in time to the Ayutthaya era. The murals on the walls are all original, depicting stories from the Ten Jataka tales. It is believed that they were painted by artists from the Wiset Chai Chan school during the late Ayutthaya period. Although the paintings are quite worn, the beauty and sacredness of the church are still evident. This temple is a must-see if you are visiting Wiset Chai Chan.

The last place in Wiset Chai Chan district that I would like to recommend is Wat Si Roi. The name Wat Si Roi is believed to have been established in memory of Khun Rong Pladet Chu and 400 villagers of Wiset Chai Chan who died in the war between Thailand and Burma at the city of Kui.

The highlight of Wat Si Roi is Luang Pho To, also known as "Luang Pho Crying," a 21-meter-tall Buddha statue in the Pa Lelai posture with a lap width of over 6 meters. In 1987, there was a major news story that Luang Pho Wat Si Roi had blood flowing from his nose, which was a very famous news story at that time. It took 19 years to build this Luang Pho To. Wat Si Roi is the same temple that I mentioned at Wat Jampa Lo that also has a Buddha statue in the Pa Lelai posture, but I think the one at Wat Si Roi is more beautiful than the one at Wat Jampa Lo.

For those who come to pay respects to Luang Pho To, don't forget to crawl under his legs (under his legs) for good luck.

Behind the Luang Pho To statue, there is the ordination hall. Originally, the inside of the ordination hall had very old murals. However, due to the passage of time, the murals have faded away completely. Currently, the temple has painted the entire ordination hall white.

From Wiset Chai Chan district, we continue to Pa Mok district, which is the last district where I explored Ang Thong city.

Visiting Pa Mok District, you must visit Pa Mok Worawihan Temple. In front of the temple, there is a pagoda on a junk boat, which looks similar to the one at Yannawa Temple, but this one is smaller.

As you walk inside, you will see the reclining Buddha's chapel. This temple houses one of the most beautiful reclining Buddha statues in Thailand. The statue is made of brick and mortar covered with gold leaf. It measures 22.58 meters from the top of the head to the tips of the toes. It is believed to have been built during the Sukhothai period.

His face is full and beautiful, so much so that it is considered to be the most beautiful face of a reclining Buddha in Thailand.

Near the reclining Buddha temple is the location of the ordination hall, which was built in the Ayutthaya style. The curved lines on the outside of the hall resemble a sailing ship. Inside the hall is the revered Luang Pho Yai, whose real name is Phra Si Sattapech Nawabopit. According to the northern chronicles, it is estimated to be over 500 years old.

In front of the reclining Buddha's chapel is a pavilion housing the four footprints of the Buddha.

The reclining Buddha at Wat Pa Mok Worawihan is another reclining Buddha that is included in the motto of Ang Thong province.

We've visited many historical and Buddhist sites, so let's go see some local wisdom. Let's start at the drum-making village in Ekkarat Subdistrict, which is located in Pamoke District.

The Ban Klong Ta Khon Drum Village in Ekkamai Subdistrict has been selected as one of the 10 Creative Economy Prototype Cities by the Ministry of Commerce in 2011. This community has been producing drums since 1927, with villagers inheriting local wisdom from generation to generation. They have expertise in making various types of drums, both Thai and international.

If you're visiting the drum-making village, I recommend stopping by the house of village headman Hongfa Yoy. There, you can take a picture with the world's largest long drum. The drum has a diameter of 36 inches (92 centimeters) and a length of 7.6 meters. It's made from six sections of rain tree wood and was built in 1994. The construction took about a year to complete.

Along the way in the community, you will see drum production and sales shops at intervals. The raw materials used to make drums are softwood, because it is a softwood that can be easily dug out. If anyone wants to see the drum making process from the beginning of turning the wood to the process of mounting the drum with cowhide and embedding the pins, they can go and see it. The drums range in size from small to large, such as the Tat drum. The price ranges from thousands to tens of thousands of baht.

Not far from the drum-making village is the Ban Bang Sai Royal Doll Center.

The Royal Dolls Center in Bang Sai Dej is located within the grounds of Wat Tha Sutthawat. It is a traditional Thai-style house. The center was established upon the Queen's initiative to provide villagers in Bang Sai Dej with an additional source of income. The villagers have formed a cooperative with the Royal Dolls Center as its headquarters.

The center will also offer demonstrations of how to make traditional Thai dolls for tourists to enjoy. From what I've seen, most of the members are adults, mostly in their 40s and above.

The finished dolls are waiting to be fired.

They were brought into the crematorium and it seemed like they were burning for a whole day.

After burning, it will be painted and assembled into a story.

In addition to the pottery demonstrations, the center also showcases and sells royal dolls and OTOP products from Ang Thong. The dolls for sale depict various scenes, including Thai children's games, traditional musical ensembles, and colorful Thai fruits. The prices are very reasonable, making them perfect souvenirs.

Both the long drum village and the royal dolls are also products that are included in Ang Thong's motto as well.

In fact, Wat Tha Sutthawat, which is located in the same area as the Wang Doll Center, also has its own unique features, just like the other temples I took you to see earlier. Inside the chapel of Wat Tha Sutthawat, there are murals depicting the story of "Phra Mahajanaka". Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn even painted the mango tree herself. However, since I arrived at the temple quite late, I missed the opportunity to see it as the temple was already closed.

Out of the 18 places I recommended in this review, I can say that each one has its own highlight. I hope that if you have read this review from beginning to end, you will no longer hear the sound of "yuck..." when someone invites you to visit Ang Thong.

P.S. For more encouragement and to follow my work, please visit https://www.facebook.com/unclegreenshirt.